Project Natal backwards compatibility unlikely, says Microsoft

Gamers hoping to use the Xbox 360’s upcoming Project Natal motion control peripheral with existing games could be in for some disappointment, Microsoft has hinted.

During the recent Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft Game’s Kudo Tsunoda said that it’s unlikely gamers will be able to “patch” existing titles for use with Natal, according to a report by gaming website Destructoid.

Microsoft has already engineered other publisher’s titles to work with the peripheral, the report added. But the significant volume of code which must be altered for this happen means a simple patch won’t be sufficient and that publishers would likely have to re-release Natal-compatible versions of existing titles.

Microsoft hasn't stated an official Project Natal launch date, but a slip-up by Microsoft exec Steve Ballmer has led many to believe that the peripheral will appear in late 2010. ®